The Scene from Gingrich’s Window: Paul Supporters, Vermin Supreme

Newt Gingrich skipped a planned event at his own New Hampshire campaign headquarters Monday night in downtown Manchester, as about 75 cheering, jeering, dancing Ron Paul supporters and Occupy Wall Street protesters congregated in front of the office.

The Paul supporters brought signs and blared pro-Ron Paul songs through speakers on the roof of a car. They used a laser to flash the words “Ron Paul 2012″ in green lights on the Gingrich headquarters sign.

A pair dressed up as furry, pink pigs holding PETA placards added to the circus-like atmosphere.

“He’s scared of us,” said Alex Freid, a political science major at the University of New Hampshire. “He doesn’t want to answer our questions.”

Inside the campaign headquarters, Gingrich supporter Dan Shepard said he was disappointed, because he’d hoped to meet the man he had admired for decades.

“I don’t get those people,” he said, gesturing to the protesters outside. “If they want money out of politics, they should go after Obama. He’s got a billion dollars.”

He motioned toward a bearded man on the other side of the glass, who wore a black rubber boot on his head and held a megaphone. It was comedian and perennial presidential candidate Vermin Supreme.

“If only Newt were here, he would save us. He would know what to do!” Mr. Supreme shouted, mocking the jacket-and-tie crowd inside. Around him. people on the sidewalk laughed and chimed in: “Save us Newt. Save us!”

The event was supposed to have been the sixth in a full day of campaigning. Mr. Gingrich’s spokesman said the candidate skipped the event because “we had security concerns.”

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